Duffy, a 22-year State of New Jersey Department of Transportation employee, worked as a Principal Right of Way negotiator for the New Jersey Department of Transportation.  Among the projects he was assigned to was the Route 36 Highlands to Sea Bright bridge construction site.  Duffy was one of the D.O.T. liaisons working with the Borough of Highlands on the transfer of property pertinent to the bridge construction project.

An investigation conducted by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey Department of Transportation Internal Affairs Bureau revealed that on July 12, 2006, Duffy twice forged the signature of the Highlands Borough Clerk, on documents identified as Agreement of Sale for the transfer of parcels 122 and 123 to the State of New Jersey.  Further, Duffy himself notarized the phony signatures he endorsed on each of the agreements.

If convicted of the crime of Falsifying or Tampering with Records, Duffy faces a maximum potential custodial sentence of up to eighteen months.

Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin stated, “Duffy's criminal behavior consisted of forging the signature of the Highlands Borough Clerk and subsequently attesting to the authenticity of the forged signature."  Prosecutor Valentin commended the New Jersey Department of Transportation for its valuable assistance in this investigation.

Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and state law.

The case is assigned to Assistant Prosecutor John F. Loughery.